Since the start of my Low Buy year on January 1st, I haven’t been to a lot of stores unless I know exactly what I need. My main reason is not so much avoiding any temptations during my low buy year, but rather the fact that I don’t need anything, so there’s no need to go to any stores in the first place. Why waste my time in places I got nothing to do except stand around?
This week a dear friend of mine returned from her six-week trip to New Zealand and we celebrated our reunion by going out for lunch and strolling through the city. She was looking for a pair of pants and I needed to get another insert for my traveler’s notebook. Thus, I took her to a shop where we could get both — and more.
Resisting temptation during my Low Buy
I went to get my notebook while my friend asked the sales assistant if she could show her some pants. All the while, I didn’t think about looking around because I knew I wouldn’t buy anything apart from the notebook. Yet this changed when my friend found some amazing pants that looked great on her and were exactly the sort of pants I’m always on the lookout for. Stylish yet comfortable, with a loose fit and of great quality — oh how I felt the temptation…
So much so that I tried on several colors and styles myself until I found a pair of pants I loved.
However, as I was standing in front of the mirror, I realized that I already have at least two pairs of black pants that look exactly the same. Three months ago I would have said that one could never have too many black pants, 50% off was a great bargain, and so forth. In the end, though, this was about WANTING and not NEEDING something. It would have been classic impulsive shopping — just the behavioral pattern I want to change.
Rules for fools?
I’ve set up some low buy rules to get me through this year and I was about to ignore them for the sake of satisfying a sudden urge that would probably vanish after a few hours (it did). While getting dressed again, I gave this thought some time to sink in and I hated it. Every time I go somewhere to buy a gift for a loved one or something I need to replace, I’m always so happy that I stick to my plan. Now all of a sudden, in the heat of a fleeting moment, I wanted to cheat myself out of feeling good about myself for no other reason than WANTING something?
Long story short, of course I did not buy those pants. I got my notebook and waited for my friend to continue our afternoon stroll through the city. At the risk of sounding narcissistic and arrogant, I was proud of myself and I felt relieved I did not give in and buy those pants. I may be a fool, but at least I stick to my rules (fingers crossed)…
Rules and Reality
“Any fool can make a rule” — I chose this title (which is actually part of a quote by Henry David Thoreau) for a good reason. Every time I start walking down some unfamiliar paths, I fear I will make a fool of myself one way or another until I get some practice or expertise. Inspired by my YouTube playlist full of great advice on low buy, no buy, and minimalism, I established my rules. Yet despite my optimism, I knew it could get tricky at some point. Hence the ironic title and a premonition that it may serve me and this plan of mine well someday in the future.
Well, hello — this day has arrived, and I did pretty well. By writing about it here, by putting it out there somewhere, it feels like I’m making a confession even though I did nothing wrong. I was on the brink of doing something stupid, but I didn’t do it. What helped me even more was imagining I had to explain this new pair of pants to Wonderguy, my sort-of accountability partner. Maybe not immediately — after all, he is not the warden of my wardrobe — but he would have noticed at some point and asked me about it. Knowing about my low buy challenge and being highly supportive of it, there is no way I could have justified buying yet another pair of black pants again. I had no good reason except WANTING it. And that wasn’t enough, not even for me.
Get inspired again and again
So if you ever set out to embark on your own low/no buy adventure, make sure to talk or write about it. Hold yourself accountable by making your intentions known to the people around you. In doing so, you will feel like shit if you break your own rules. Be vocal about your plans and they will haunt you!
(Re)Watch inspiring videos to motivate you again and again, and read about how others handle their low-buy and no-buy journey on blogs. Connect with fellow low buyers/no buyers and support each other through all the temptations and difficult moments that might arise. Be it a shitty day at work, anxiety, life, or something else that usually triggers you into buying shit you don’t need — reach out to others who share your path. There’s a no-buy community on Reddit that can be inspiring (and even supportive if you’re on Reddit). Searching “low buy” on YouTube can also boost your morale.
Let’s support each other and be serious about this whole endeavor. Because in the end, it’s not just about each of us, it’s about how we interact with the world around us, learning to cope with what life throws at us without running away into the open arms of the next ATM or online shop.
I did it. I resisted the urge of an impulsive purchase — for the first time and (very very) probably not the last time.
You can do it too 🙂